Tipping point: Demand for independent Trump-Russia investigation reaches fever pitch

With signs of White House obstruction and Republican sabotage of investigations into connections between the Trump campaign and Russia, the demand for an independent inquiry has broken through on Capitol Hill.

The Trump administration announced that it would not cooperate with a congressional request for documentation of foreign payments to former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn that he failed to disclose — which, according to Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), would be a “violation of law.”

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are under-staffing their probe of Trump and Russia and refusing to subpoena key witnesses to testify.

Congressional Democrats made a series of public statements indicting the process and the conduct of Republicans in covering up misdeeds and possible violations of the law by the Trump team.

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RT: All the more reason we need an independent #TrumpRussia investigation NOW! https://t.co/pqTUQ4gQOI #ProtectOurDemocracy

— Rep. Joyce Beatty (@RepBeatty) April 25, 2017

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White House's refusal to share these #Flynn #Russia documents is unacceptable. American people deserve answers. https://t.co/9rleNvsKQr

— Carolyn B. Maloney (@RepMaloney) April 25, 2017

Team Trump-Russia entanglements only get messier. Exactly why we need an independent investigation into these ties.

— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) April 25, 2017

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Hopeful that Yates & Clapper testimony on #Russia will underscore need for investigation led by independent special prosecutor.

— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) April 25, 2017

Have to think even "modest vetting" would have uncovered #Flynn's failure to disclose payments from Russia while seeking security clearance

— Archived: U.S. Rep Kathleen Rice (@RepKathleenRice) April 25, 2017

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Even some Republicans have broken ranks with their party and are calling for an independent investigation. Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) co-sponsored a Democratic bill calling for an independent commission. Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) said the House Intelligence Committee has been “too politicized” and it “may be time for an independent counsel.” Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) has also made a call for a special prosecutor into the matter.

The American public has lost patience with Republican tampering and obstruction of these investigations. An overwhelming 73 percent of voters say they want an independent inquiry into the Trump-Russia alliance, with 61 percent expressing little to no confidence in the Republican-run Congress to get the job done.

The message could not be clearer, from members of Congress and from the public: We must have an independent investigation to get to the truth.